Hairpin opener



G. K. HOPKINS Aug. 30, 1949.

HAIRPIN- OPENER Filed Dec. 3, 1947 INVENTOR Gerald K. Hopkins WI QZ%%W ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 30, 1949 UNITED STATES 2,480,581

HAIRPIN OPENER Gerald K. Hopkins, Essex County, Mass.

Application December 3, 1947, Serial No. 789,464

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in hairpin openers particularly of the type known as bobby pins. The particularly object of the invention is to provide a device which will separate the side members of the bobby pin preparatory to its use in the hair.

It has been allegedly found that the common method of inserting bobby pins between the teeth develops ridges in ladies teeth from this constant usage. However this may be, the device of the invention is a simplified means of spreading the side members of the bobby pins and to provide a construction whereby the bobby pin opener may be made in the form of a ring supported on the finger in a manner to facilitate positioning of the hairpin thereon and removing the same thus saving time and eliminating the diificulties involved in the present methods of spreading "bobby pins.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide such a finger ring opener with a guide for the long prong of the pin in order that the said prong may be slid into a suitable trough for guiding until the said long prong passes through a hole in the guide provided for the purpose.

A further object of my invention is to enable the bobby pin opener to be so arranged that the guide portion of the opener occupies such a position relative to the finger upon which the ring is held that the bobby pin may be pointed towards the guide in a direction parallel with the length of said finger.

The invention will be more specifically explained and better understood by referring to the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 represents my improved bobby pin opener in isometric view. Fig. 2 is a view of the bobby pin opener in the form of a ring with the guide integral therewith and illustrating the angular relationship of guide and ring; Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2 with the long prong of the bobby pin extending farther through the opening in the guide and the short prong slid up the trough of the guide, and Fig. 4 is a bottom View of the ring and guide illustrating that the ring is split for adjustment to fit the finger.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, like numerals refer to like parts throughout the various figures of the drawing.

In Fig. 1, l represents the ring portion of the device and preferably flattened at the top 2; 3 represents a guide or locater extension provided with an opening 4, and 5 represents a split portion of the ring I at the bottom whereby the ring is self adjusting to fit varying sizes of fingers.

2 The locater or guide 3 is trough-shaped as illustrated in Fig. 1 the bottom level of the trough being illustrated by the shaded line at 6, Fig. 1. Fig. 2 illustrates the relation of the bobby pin to guide or locator 3 when the bobby pin 1, Figs. 2 and 3, is being inserted through the opening 4 in the guide 3. It will be seen from Figs. 2 and 3 that the direction of insertion of the hobby pin in the guide is not laterally with reference to the finger but parallel thereto; that is when the bobby pin is inserted in the trough 5 of the guide the long prong of the bobby pin is slid upwardly in the trough 6, Fig. 1 until it finds the opening 4. This is a considerable advantage as it does not involve trying to find the bobby pin opening at right angles or at any other angle to the plane of the ring on the finger. With this arrangement the hobby pin may be opened either before the fingers are raised to the back of the head; or after one hand of the operator is employed in holding the hair the other hand may be used to slide the bobby pin along the guide 3 and open the bobby pin at that position. In this manner it does not require two hands to open the bobby pin, but one hand of the operator may be employed in holding the hair while the other opens the bobby pin by means of the ring and guide on the finger of the hand which is holding the hair. The trough-shaped guide is very effective in this connection and once the long prong of the bobby pin strikes the trough 6 on the guide 3 it requires no efiort to slide it along and to automatically find the opening l through which the long prong of the bobby pin is immediately projected, and thumb 8, Fig. 2 may be employed to push the bobby pin through and the short prong slid up the trough 6 as the .long prong extends farther through the opening 4.

.The bobby pin is now effectively spread and may be withdrawn by the operator with the finger of the operating hand inserted between the prongs of the bobby pin to keep the latter open until it is inserted in the hair.

It will be seen that with the specific construction of locater or guide and its relationship to the direction of operation with reference to the ring, the spreading of the bobby pin is almost automatic and there is no fumbling around to find the proper direction or location of opening of the pin. Also the operator may have one hand employed in holding the hair while the other hand may be employed to open the pin.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A bobby pin opener comprising in comextending rearwardly and angularly upwardly Number 4 from the partially flattened top surface or the ring.

GERALD K. HOPKINS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 2,441,947 Welch May 25, 1948 2,444,378 Sewol June 29, 1948 

